THE STRUCTURAL BASIS OF MUSCULAR CONTRACTION

H. Huxley , F.R.S.

During the past 25 years, there have been important developments in the techniques of low-angle X-ray diffraction and electron-microscopy, as applied to biological material. In the case of muscle, these developments have made it possible to study n-iany of the molecular changes which occur during contraction. According to the present structural model, contraction is brought about by a relative sliding motion of arrays of two different types of molecular filaments. The sliding force is generated by the cyclical action of cross-bridges between these myosin and actin filaments. The experimental evidence which led to this picture is described, together with the technical developments involved.

Domaines: Articles anciens

H. Huxley, F.R.S.. THE STRUCTURAL BASIS OF MUSCULAR CONTRACTION. Journal de Physique Colloques, 1973, 34 (C10), pp.C10-13-C10-25. ⟨10.1051/jphyscol:19731002⟩. ⟨jpa-00215466⟩